Overpass

ABSTRACT

An overpass, including: a main road, an auxiliary road, a turntable, a cross-shaped viaduct, a sidewalk, an elevated bicycle lane, an elevated bicycle parking layer, and a first lower level floor. The main road includes: a first lower level main connecting lane. The auxiliary road includes: a first lower level auxiliary connecting lane. The turntable includes: a plurality of bus stops, taxi docking stations, and outer pedestrian ladders. The cross-shaped viaduct includes: a dual-line bridge and a single-line bridge. The first lower level floor includes a first lower level parking lot. The main road and the auxiliary road cross intersect at the turntable. The cross-shaped viaduct crosses above the turntable and is connected to the main road and the auxiliary road. The dual-line bridge is connected to the main road and the single-line bridge is connected to the auxiliary road.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2012/076825 with an international filing date of Jun. 13, 2012, designating the United States, now pending, and further claims priority benefits to Chinese Patent Application No. 201210132315.2 filed Apr. 28, 2012. The contents of all of the aforementioned applications, including any intervening amendments thereto, are incorporated herein by reference. Inquiries from the public to applicants or assignees concerning this document or the related applications should be directed to: Matthias Scholl P.C., Attn.: Dr. Matthias Scholl Esq., 245 First Street, 18th Floor, Cambridge, Mass. 02142.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an overpass.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the fast development of cities, traffic jams have become a major issue. In addition, despite advances in transportation planning, the following problems remain: long distance passengers must often make several connections to get to their final destination, there is a limited supply of parking spaces and a limited road capacity, traffic jams occur during rush hour, and there is no independent transportation system for bicycles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-described problems, it is one objective of the invention to provide an overpass that is convenient for citizens to transfer among different vehicles, effectively reduces the traffic congestion at different periods, and satisfies the demands for the development of the underground mass transit railway.

To achieve the above objective, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided an overpass. The overpass comprises: a main road, the main road comprising: a first lower level main connecting lane; an auxiliary road, the auxiliary road comprising: a first lower level auxiliary connecting lane; a turntable, the turntable comprising: a plurality of bus stops, taxi docking stations, and outer pedestrian ladders; a cross-shaped viaduct, the cross-shaped viaduct comprising: a dual-line bridge and a single-line bridge; a sidewalk; an elevated bicycle lane; an elevated bicycle parking layer; and a first lower level floor, the first lower level floor comprising a first lower level parking lot. The main road and the auxiliary road cross intersect at the turntable. The cross-shaped viaduct crosses above the turntable and is connected to the main road and the auxiliary road. The dual-line bridge is connected to the main road and the single-line bridge is connected to the auxiliary road. Sidewalks are disposed at outer sides of the main road and the auxiliary road, respectively. The elevated bicycle lane is disposed above each sidewalk. The elevated bicycle parking layer is connected to the elevated bicycle lane and is disposed between the turntable and the cross-shaped viaduct. The bus stops are disposed at a central part of the turntable. The first lower level floor is disposed beneath the main road and the auxiliary road. The first lower level parking lot is disposed on the first lower level floor. The first lower level main connecting lane is disposed on the main road and connects the main road to the first lower level floor. The first lower level auxiliary connecting lane is disposed on the auxiliary road and connects the auxiliary road to the first lower level floor. The taxi docking stations and the outer pedestrian ladders connected to the first lower level floor are disposed at an outer side of the turntable. Entrances of the outer pedestrian ladders are connected to the taxi docking stations on the ground, respectively.

In a class of this embodiment, both the main road and the auxiliary road are provided with a back-turn left-turn dual-purpose lane, a straight lane, a bus lane, and a right-turn lane inside out.

In a class of this embodiment, four bus stops are disposed at the central part of the turntable corresponding to each road intersection. The bicycle parking layer is provided with a pedestrian escalator downwardly connected to the bus stops. A central part of the bus stops is provided with a pedestrian ladder connected to the first lower level floor.

In a class of this embodiment, the turntable is provided with a road surface marking indicating a clockwise direction and a road surface marking indicating a counter clockwise direction.

In a class of this embodiment, the main road comprises a unidirectional parking main approach connecting the main road to the first lower level floor. The auxiliary road comprises a unidirectional parking auxiliary approach connecting the auxiliary road to the first lower level parking lot.

In a class of this embodiment, the main road is provided with a combination of traffic lights being capable of changing a traffic direction from the main road to the dual-line bridge. The combination of traffic lights is disposed close to an entrance of the unidirectional parking main approach.

In a class of this embodiment, a second lower level floor is disposed beneath the first lower level floor. The second lower level floor comprises a bidirectional vehicle tunnel disposed beneath the auxiliary road for connecting the second lower level floor to the auxiliary road. The first lower level floor comprises a second lower level connecting lane and a second lower level pedestrian escalator connected to the second lower level floor. Two second lower level metro lines are disposed at two sides of the bidirectional vehicle tunnel, respectively. The second lower level floor is provided with a second lower level parking lot functioning as a temporary parking lot before metro construction.

In a class of this embodiment, a third lower level floor is disposed beneath the second lower level floor. The third lower level floor is provided with a third lower level connecting lane and a third pedestrian escalator connected to the second lower level floor. Four metro lines are disposed at the third lower level floor. The third lower level floor is provided with a third lower level parking lot functioning as a temporary parking lot before metro construction.

Advantages according to embodiments of the invention are summarized as follows:

1. Both the main road and the auxiliary road adopt a combination of the straight highway at the middle part and the gradually broadened constant speed road at two sides. Since the middle lanes are connected to the cross-shaped viaduct, the number of side lanes connected to the turntable is increased, thereby providing an enough space for the confluence of the fast vehicle stream and the slow vehicle stream.

2. Both the main road and the auxiliary road are provided with unidirectional approaches to connect to the first lower level parking lot, so that the traffic pressure is reduced and a long period smooth traffic is ensured.

3. Bidirectional channels of the first lower level main connecting lane and the first lower level auxiliary connecting lane are disposed near the turntable to connect the parking lot, so that it is very convenient to get the parking auxiliary.

4. Four bidirectional straight lanes of the middle part of the auxiliary road comprise the bidirectional vehicle tunnel connected to the second lower level parking lot, and the bidirectional vehicle tunnel is also connected to the first lower level parking lot via the unidirectional parking auxiliary approach. Both the main road and the auxiliary road adopt the similar design. The ground floor is the junction of the gradually broadened constant speed roads, and the additional lanes are designed for vehicles to separate from the highway and change the direction and also serve as a buffer region for the vehicles to enter the highway. Thus, the fast or slow traveling, parking, or direction changing of the vehicles is realized, and the drivers can flexibly plan their journey.

5. The combination of traffic lights controlled by the transportation center is disposed on the four lanes of straight highways at the middle part of the main road for flexibly control the vehicle stream of each lane. The middle part of the viaduct is cross-shaped, and the elevated unidirectional dual-line bridges at two sides of the viaduct are connected to a middle line of the auxiliary roads at two sides. The combination of traffic lights 13 is disposed close to an entrance of the unidirectional parking main approach. The combination of the traffic lights is controlled by a transportation center. A red light indicates that a certain lane is prevented from inside, a yellow light instructs to turn right as soon as possible since the lane will be blocked and forbidden, and a green light instructs a safe entrance. If a front side displays a green light, a back side then displays a red light. If a certain lane is supposed to be blocked and forbidden, the front side is switched from the green light to the yellow light, and the back side still displays the red light; after the yellow light lasts for several minutes, the front side is switched from the yellow light to the red light, and the back side still displays the red light; and the condition of red lights on both the front side and the back side lasts for several minutes. When the transportation ensures that the lane is clear and safe, the back side is switched from the red light into the green light, and the front side still displays the red light. Thus, colors of the lights of the front side and the back side are exchanged, and the traffic direction is correspondingly changed. The traffic direction on the middle four lanes can be regulated in response to the traffic stream, particularly in the rush hour.

6. Six-layer standard bridge and tunnel construction is adopted. The ground level is the constant speed roads intersecting at the turntable. A first layer above the ground level is the elevated bicycle parking layer, and the second layer above the ground level is the cross-shaped viaduct. A first layer underground is the first lower level layer. The lobby and the surrounding pedestrian escalators can be used as tunnels for people to cross the road. The second layer underground is the second lower level floor. Spaces on two sides of the bidirectional vehicle tunnel at the second lower level floor are temporarily designed as second lower level parking lots and are planned to construct as two second lower level metro lines in the future. The third lower level floor beneath the main road is planned to construct four metro lines at the third lower level floor and is temporarily designed as third lower level parking lot before metro construction. Each layer is connected to pedestrian ladders, and parking lots of each lower level floor are connected to vehicle lanes. The second lower level floor and the third lower level floor firstly function as temporary parking lots to solve difficulties in parking, and meanwhile enough space are reserved for the city metro construction and intercity railway construction.

7. The elevated bicycle lanes are disposed above the sidewalks. The entrance and exit of the bicycle lanes at the ground level are disposed in parks, thereby providing enough space to increase the height of the bicycle lanes to a safe degree. The bicycle lanes are allowed to cross above the road and connect to the bicycle parking layer so as to connect to different directions. The contour exit and entrance of the bicycle lanes can be also arranged at a contour level of residential buildings. Or the bicycle lanes can also be connected to bicycle parking auxiliaries of shopping malls or public places, thereby being very convenient for people using bicycles. The bicycle lanes are separated from the people stream and the vehicle stream and form an independent transportation system.

8. The turntable is provided with four bus stops and enough large waiting space. The design of the pedestrian escalator connects the bus stops upwardly to the bicycle parking layer and to downwardly the central lobby of the first lower level floor. People stream and bus or metro passengers are capable of cross the quartet road via pedestrian ladders. The entrance and exit of the pedestrian ladders are provided with taxi docking stations, thereby being convenient to get taxies. Parking lots of different lower level floors are also connected via channels and pedestrian ladders.

9. A plurality of parking lots is designed at different lower level floors, not only is the land is saved, but also parking difficulties are solved. The approaches connected to the parking lots are capable of reducing the vehicle stream and the traffic pressure as well as ensuring the long period smooth traffic. The planning metro station, i. e., the temporary parking lots of the first lower level floor and the second lower level floor provides enough parking space and underground space. When the second lower level floors or the third lower level floors of adjacent hub overpasses are connected, and the underground spaces are constructed into stations of the underground mass transit railway system, it will be more convenient for passengers to transfer among different vehicles.

10. The four bus stops are disposed at the central part of the turntable, and the temporary stop of the buses does not affect other vehicle streams. The cross-shaped viaduct, the elevated bicycle lanes, and the elevated bicycle parking layer provide a wind and rain shield for people. Besides, the four bus stops are gathered in the center of the turntable, thereby being very convenient for people to interchange between different bus lines or other vehicles and being beneficial for the reform and optimization of the bus operation management.

11. Both the main road and the auxiliary road are provided with the back-turn left-turn dual-purpose lane, the straight lane, the bus lane, and the right-turn lane. By arranging the underground vehicle parking lot, the bicycle parking lot, and taxi and public transport interchange facilities, the transport resources are reasonably integrated, and the smooth traffic is ensured.

12. The overpass of the invention is applicable for newly developed urban area and old urban area reconstruction. If a large amount of the vehicles are parked in the parking lots of the transportation hubs in the periphery of the city, the vehicle stream entering the city is reduced, which is beneficial for reducing the traffic congestion. Besides, when the overpasses of the invention are utilized in the reconstruction of the old urban area, the transport capacity will be enlarged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an overpass in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1 taken from line A-A;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1 taken from line B-B;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an overpass in the absence of a dual-line bridge and a single-line bridge in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a main road and an auxiliary road in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a first lower level floor in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a second lower level floor in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of a third lower level floor in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

For further illustrating the invention, experiments detailing an overpass are described below. It should be noted that the following examples are intended to describe and not to limit the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, an overpass comprises a main road 1 and an auxiliary road 2 cross intersecting at a turntable 3. The main road 1 is a primary road that radially connects a city center and the periphery thereof and has a large traffic stream in rush hour. The auxiliary road 2 is a loop-shaped road that surrounds the periphery of the city center, and the auxiliary road 2 is provided with a four-line bidirectional vehicle tunnel 224 connected to the second lower level floor 22. The main road 1 is provided with a dual-line bridge 11 crossing above the turntable 3 and connected to middle four lines of the main road 1. A middle part of the auxiliary road 2 is provided with a single-line bridge 12 crossing above the turntable 3 and connected to the main road 1. The dual-line bridge 11 and the single-line bridge 12 intersect to form a cross-shaped viaduct 10. The traffic stream on the dual-line bridge 11 is able to run straight or turn to the single-line bridge 12 to enter the auxiliary road 2. An elevated bicycle lane 101 is disposed above sidewalks 114 at outer sides of the main road 1 and is extended to an elevated bicycle lane 101 disposed above sidewalks 114 at outer sides of the auxiliary road 2. An elevated bicycle parking layer 102 is connected to the elevated bicycle lane 101 and is disposed between the turntable 3 and the cross-shaped viaduct 10. The elevated bicycle lane 101 and the elevated bicycle parking layer 102 bring convenience for the green travel. A central part of the turntable 3 is provided with four bus stops 4, and the four bus stops 4 are provided with four docking stations corresponding to each road intersection. The main road 1 and the auxiliary road 2 are correspondingly provided with bus lanes 112. Buses from different directions enter or exit the turntable via a bus circling lane 104, so that it is very convenient for travelling or waiting of the buses and the entering or exiting the bus stops 4 of the buses rarely affects the surrounding traffic stream. Both the main road 1 and the auxiliary road 2 are provided with a back-turn left-turn dual-purpose lane 115, a straight lane 111, a bus lane 112, a right-turn lane 113, and the sidewalk 114 inside out. The outermost lane is the right-turn lane 113 by which vehicles can directly turn right to enter a right-turn entering lane 108 of an adjacent road. Other traffic streams enter the turntable 3 in a clockwise direction and then enter left-turn entering lanes 109 when they exit the turntable 3. The bicycle parking layer 102 is provided with a pedestrian escalator 103 downwardly connected to the four bus stops 4. The right-turn lane 113 of the turntable 3 is provided with taxi docking stations 106 and outer pedestrian ladders 107, thereby being convenient for citizens to get taxis and bus transfer. The turntable 3 is provided with a road surface marking indicating a clockwise direction as well as a road surface marking indicating a counter clockwise direction. Except that the right-turn traffic stream turns right, other traffic streams travel in the turntable in a clockwise direction. Vehicles on the right-turn lane 113 turn right to enter the adjacent road, and vehicles on the left-turn straight-drive dual-purpose lane 111 are able to turn left to enter the adjacent road or drive in the clockwise direction in the turntable to enter an opposite road. The main road 1 is provided with a combination of traffic lights 13 capable of changing a traffic direction from the main road 1 to the dual-line bridge 11. The combination of traffic lights 13 is disposed close to an entrance of the unidirectional parking main approach 211. The combination of the traffic lights 13 is controlled by a transportation center. A red light indicates that a certain lane is prevented from inside, a yellow light instructs to turn right as soon as possible since the lane will be blocked and forbidden, and a green light instructs a safe entrance. If a front side displays a green light, a back side then displays a red light. If a certain lane is supposed to be blocked and forbidden, the front side is switched from the green light to the yellow light, and the back side still displays the red light; after the yellow light lasts for several minutes, the front side is switched from the yellow light to the red light, and the back side still displays the red light; and the condition of red lights on both the front side and the back side lasts for several minutes. When the transportation ensures that the lane is clear and safe, the back side is switched from the red light into the green light, and the front side still displays the red light. Thus, colors of the lights of the front side and the back side are exchanged, and the traffic direction is correspondingly changed.

A first lower level floor 21 is disposed beneath the main road 1 and the auxiliary road 2. The main road 1 comprises a unidirectional parking main approach 211 connecting the main road 1 and the first lower level floor 21. The unidirectional parking main approach 211 is disposed on two ends of the dual-line bridge 11. The main road 1 is provided with a first lower level main connecting lane 212 for connecting the main road and the first lower level floor 21. The auxiliary road 2 is provided with a first lower level auxiliary connecting lane 216 for connecting the auxiliary road 2 and the first lower level floor 21. An entrance and exit of a first lower level parking lot 214 connects the first lower level main connecting lane 212 and a first lower level auxiliary connecting lane 216. Each sidewalk 114 is provided with a first lower level pedestrian escalator 213 connected to the first lower level floor 21. The four bus stops 4 are not only upwardly connected to the elevated bicycle parking layer 102 via a pedestrian escalator 103, but also downwardly connected to the first lower level parking lot 214 at the first lower level floor 21 via a pedestrian ladder 105. A center of the first lower level parking lot 214 at the first lower level floor 21 is designed to be a pedestrian area for allowing the pedestrian to cross the road. The first lower level parking lot 214 is accessible to the sidewalks 114 via the outer pedestrian ladders 107, the pedestrian ladder 105 connecting the bus stops to the first lower level parking lot 214, and the first lower level pedestrian escalator 213 surrounding the parking lot.

A second lower level floor 22 is disposed beneath the first lower level floor 21. The second lower level floor 22 comprises a bidirectional vehicle tunnel 224 disposed beneath the auxiliary road 2 for connecting the second lower level floor 22 to the auxiliary road 2. When the unidirectional parking auxiliary approach 221 passes through the first lower level floor, a right side of the bidirectional vehicle tunnel 224 is provided with a unidirectional parking auxiliary approach 221 at the first lower level floor. Spaces on two sides of the bidirectional vehicle tunnel 224 at the second lower level floor 22 are temporarily designed as second lower level parking lots 220 and are planned to construct as two second lower level metro lines 225 in the future. The first lower level floor 21 comprises a second lower level connecting lane 222 and a second lower level pedestrian escalator 223 connected to the second lower level floor 22. A third lower level floor 23 is disposed beneath the second lower level floor 22. The third lower level floor 23 beneath the main road 1 is planned to construct four metro lines 231 at the third lower level floor 23 and is temporarily designed as third lower level parking lot 230 before metro construction. The third lower level floor 23 is provided with a third lower level connecting lane 232 and a third pedestrian escalator 233 connected to the second lower level floor 22. The second lower level floor 22 and the third lower level floor 23 firstly function as temporary parking lots to solve difficulties in parking, and meanwhile enough space are reserved for the city metro construction and intercity railway construction, thereby being convenient to the traffic and the citizen lives.

The arrangement of the combination of the traffic lights 13 is controlled by the transportation center so as to change the traffic directions according to the change of the traffic stream.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An overpass, comprising: a) a main road, the main road comprising: a first lower level main connecting lane; b) an auxiliary road, the auxiliary road comprising: a first lower level auxiliary connecting lane; c) a turntable, the turntable comprising: a plurality of bus stops, taxi docking stations, and outer pedestrian ladders; d) a cross-shaped viaduct, the cross-shaped viaduct comprising: a dual-line bridge and a single-line bridge; e) a sidewalk; f) an elevated bicycle lane; g) an elevated bicycle parking layer; and h) a first lower level floor, the first lower level floor comprising a first lower level parking lot; wherein the main road and the auxiliary road cross intersect at the turntable; the cross-shaped viaduct crosses above the turntable and is connected to the main road and the auxiliary road; the dual-line bridge is connected to the main road and the single-line bridge is connected to the auxiliary road; sidewalks are disposed at outer sides of the main road and the auxiliary road, respectively; the elevated bicycle lane is disposed above each sidewalk; the elevated bicycle parking layer is connected to the elevated bicycle lane and is disposed between the turntable and the cross-shaped viaduct; the bus stops are disposed at a central part of the turntable; the first lower level floor is disposed beneath the main road and the auxiliary road; and the first lower level parking lot is disposed on the first lower level floor; the first lower level main connecting lane is disposed on the main road and connects the main road to the first lower level floor; the first lower level auxiliary connecting lane is disposed on the auxiliary road and connects the auxiliary road to the first lower level floor; the taxi docking stations and the outer pedestrian ladders connected to the first lower level floor are disposed at an outer side of the turntable; and entrances of the outer pedestrian ladders are connected to the taxi docking stations on the ground, respectively.
 2. The overpass of claim 1, wherein both the main road and the auxiliary road are provided with a back-turn left-turn dual-purpose lane, a straight lane, a bus lane, and a right-turn lane inside out.
 3. The overpass of claim 1, wherein four bus stops are disposed at the central part of the turntable corresponding to each road intersection; the bicycle parking layer is provided with a pedestrian escalator downwardly connected to the bus stops; and a central part of the bus stops is provided with a pedestrian ladder connected to the first lower level floor.
 4. The overpass of claim 1, wherein the turntable is provided with a road surface marking indicating a clockwise direction and a road surface marking indicating a counter clockwise direction.
 5. The overpass of claim 1, wherein the main road comprises a unidirectional parking main approach connecting the main road to the first lower level floor; and the auxiliary road comprises a unidirectional parking auxiliary approach connecting the auxiliary road to the first lower level parking lot.
 6. The overpass of claim 1, wherein the main road is provided with a combination of traffic lights capable of changing a traffic direction from the main road to the dual-line bridge; and the combination of traffic lights is disposed close to an entrance of the unidirectional parking main approach.
 7. The overpass of claim 5, wherein a second lower level floor is disposed beneath the first lower level floor; the second lower level floor comprises a bidirectional vehicle tunnel disposed beneath the auxiliary road for connecting the second lower level floor to the auxiliary road; the first lower level floor comprises a second lower level connecting lane and a second lower level pedestrian escalator connected to the second lower level floor; two second lower level metro lines are disposed at two sides of the bidirectional vehicle tunnel, respectively; and the second lower level floor is provided with a second lower level parking lot functioning as a temporary parking lot before metro construction.
 8. The overpass of claim 7, wherein a third lower level floor is disposed beneath the second lower level floor; the third lower level floor is provided with a third lower level connecting lane and a third pedestrian escalator connected to the second lower level floor; four metro lines are disposed at the third lower level floor; and the third lower level floor is provided with a third lower level parking lot functioning as a temporary parking lot before metro construction. 